Dual fuel cell stacks connected in series electrically and in parallel for gas flow

Abstract

A fuel cell assembly comprising a plurality of individual fuel cells, especially a solid-oxide fuel cell assembly. The cells are organized into a plurality of stacks, preferably two stacks, disposed side-by-side rather than end-to-end as in a prior art monolithic single stack. This arrangement makes the assembly compact physically, which can be highly desirable in some fuel cell applications. The stacks are connected conventionally in series electrically but are supplied with air and fuel in parallel to shorten the distribution manifolds and improve uniformity of distribution and exhaust among all the cells.

1. A fuel cell assembly, comprising:
 a) a plurality of fuel cell stacks, each stack containing a plurality of individual fuel cells, and said plurality of fuel cells and stacks being connected electrically in series, and said stacks being arranged side-by-side and electrically connected head-to-tail; 
 b) at least one fuel manifold for providing fuel to said stacks and for removing spent fuel from said stacks, said at least one fuel manifold being arranged for flow of fuel through said stacks; and 
 c) at least one air manifold for providing air to said stacks and for removing spent air from said stacks, said at least one air manifold being arranged for flow of air through said stacks, wherein said at least one fuel manifold is arranged for at least one of parallel or mirror imaged flow of fuel through said stacks, and wherein said flow of air and said flow of fuel cross at a non-parallel angle within at least one of said stacks. 
 
   
   
     2. A fuel cell assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said flow of air and said flow of fuel cross orthogonally within at least one of said stacks. 
   
   
     3. A fuel cell assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said flow of air and said flow of fuel alternate vertically within said at least on of said stacks. 
   
   
     4. A fuel cell assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said at least one air manifold is arranged for at least one of parallel or mirror imaged flow of air through said stacks. 
   
   
     5. A fuel cell assembly in accordance with  claim 1  comprising two fuel cell stacks. 
   
   
     6. A fuel cell assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said fuel cells are solid-oxide fuel cells. 
   
   
     7. A fuel cell assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said assembly is mounted on a vehicle. 
   
   
     8. A fuel cell assembly in accordance with  claim 7  wherein said vehicle is selected from the group consisting of car, truck, boat, and airplane. 
   
   
     9. A fuel cell assembly in accordance with  claim 7  wherein said assembly is an auxiliary power unit for said vehicle. 
   
   
     10. A fuel cell assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said plurality of fuel cells are arranged horizontally. 
   
   
     11. A vehicle, comprising a fuel cell assembly for generating auxiliary power for said vehicle, said assembly including:
 a) a plurality of fuel cell stacks, each stack containing a plurality of individual fuel cells, and said plurality of fuel cells and stacks being connected electrically in series, and said stacks being arranged side-by-side and electrically connected head-to-tail; 
 b) at least one fuel manifold for providing fuel to said stacks and for removing spent fuel from said stacks, said at least one fuel manifold being arranged for flow of fuel through said stacks; and 
 c) at least one air manifold for providing air to said stacks and for removing spent air from said stacks, said at least one air manifold being arranged for flow of air through said stacks, wherein said at least one fuel manifold is arranged for at least one of parallel or mirror imaged flow of fuel through said stacks, and wherein said flow of air and said flow of fuel cross at a non-parallel angle within at least one of said stacks. 
 
   
   
     12. A vehicle in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said flow of air and said flow of fuel cross orthogonally within at least one of said stacks. 
   
   
     13. A vehicle in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said flow of air and said flow of fuel alternate vertically within said at least on of said stacks. 
   
   
     14. A vehicle in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said at least one air manifold is arranged for at least one of parallel or mirror imaged flow of air through said stacks. 
   
   
     15. A vehicle in accordance with  claim 11  comprising two fuel cell stacks. 
   
   
     16. A vehicle in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said fuel cells are solid-oxide fuel cells. 
   
   
     17. A vehicle in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said assembly is mounted on a vehicle. 
   
   
     18. A vehicle in accordance with  claim 17  wherein said vehicle is selected from the group consisting of car, truck, boat, and airplane. 
   
   
     19. A vehicle in accordance with  claim 17  wherein said assembly is an auxiliary power unit for said vehicle. 
   
   
     20. A vehicle in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said plurality of fuel cells are arranged horizontally.